Brunswick County Commissioners approve purchase of 380 acres for future raw water reservoir
Land is in the Leland area near the Northwest Water Treatment Plant
Down Ballot Staff Reports
BOLIVIA, N.C. – The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of property on Wednesda, January 21 to be used as a future raw water reservoir, according to a news release from Brunswick County.
The tract encompasses about 380 acres in the Leland area near the Northwest Water Treatment Plant. The land’s proximity to the county’s largest water plant coupled with its history as a quarry makes it an ideal location for a water reservoir.
A lake already exists on about 50 to 60 acres of the old quarry site with room to expand, however a majority of the parcel is undeveloped and forested. The County will keep the area wooded as it transitions to a reservoir site.
“Because of the growth and development in this particular area of the county, this property may have one day been developed into a major planned unit development,” County Manager Steve Stone said. “Instead, this location will be used to support important public health and quality of life needs while preserving its natural identity.”
The installation of necessary infrastructure like pumps and pipes will need to occur before the reservoir can be placed into service.
The Board of Commissioners entered into closed session during the regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20 to discuss the potential purchase. The board tabled the discussion and recessed the meeting until Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., where the Board returned to closed session. The Board unanimously approved the purchase after returning from closed session.
In addition to this reservoir project, Brunswick County is also expanding water capacity and installing a low-pressure reverse osmosis water treatment system at the Northwest Water Treatment Plant to support current and future growth in the water system.
All of Brunswick County's water customers and wholesale municipal water customers receive either all or part of their water from the Northwest Water Treatment Plant.
The project will increase the plant’s capacity from 24 MGD to 48 MGD and will provide a low-pressure reverse osmosis treatment capacity of no less than 36 MGD.
Low-pressure reverse osmosis is considered the most advanced and effective method to treat and remove both regulated and unregulated materials like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from drinking water.
The project contractor estimates the project will be completed by September 2026.
